Devin opened her mouth to rebut, but Lucas spoke overtop of her. No concrete evidence whatsoever, that Konrad ever had any intention of duping Monica.
What about the conversation?
Hearsay. You didnt hear it yourself, and Monica heard it out of context.
Thats a stretch.
Thats the truth. When she overheard our conversation, Konrad was being ironic. He told me marrying Monica to get her pregnant would have been the perfect plan. Not that it had been the perfect plan. We were laughing at Steve, not at Monica. Write that down.
And then youll have it on record.
Lucass exasperated sigh was his answer.
And when I fight you for Amelia, you use my letter against me? It was a rhetorical question, and she didnt expect an answer.
I can only solve one problem at a time, he stated, tossing a rock into the duck pond.
Seems to me youre solving both of your problems in one fell swoop.
Lucass gaze went to Amelia, who was now seated on the lawn, picking the heads off plump purple clover. When she turns twenty-one, do you want to explain to her how we lost her inheritance?
No. But I also dont want to have to introduce myself to her.
Lucas rolled to his feet, jerking his hand in a gesture of frustration. That is never going to happen. I wont keep you away from her.
Devin also came to her feet, straightening her skirt and brushing her backside. She wanted to believe him. She truly did. Her decision would be so much easier if she could trust Lucas.
Im supposed to believe you? she challenged.
He took two paces toward her. Im not the one breaking into bedrooms and email accounts.
Youre also not the one taking a chance on my ethics. Im taking a chance on yours.
Well, thank goodness for that. Your track record so far is dismal.
Devin couldnt defend herself. He was right on that score.
The fight went out of her body, and the power went out of her voice. I dont even know why Im arguing with you.
Lucas drew back. His brows knit together in obvious confusion.
I didnt come out here to fight, she told him. I know who the real bad guy is. She pressed a hand against her forehead. I came out here to ask you to annihilate Steve.
Are you actually falling for Byron? Devin stared at Lexis sparkling eyes and flushed cheeks where she sat on the end of the bed in her ranch-house room. Lexi was fresh from a shower, wrapped in a thick white robe, drying her blond hair with a towel.
Its a party, Lexi retorted. He didnt invite me to a wild weekend in St. Kitts. Though her expression told Devin shed probably consider a wild weekend in St. Kitts.
Youre flying all the way to Houston for a party?
Lexi grinned. Were flying all the way to Houston for a party. Byron wants all four of us to go.
I cant go to Houston. Devin straightened on her perch at the other end of the bed. She was here to take care of Amelia, not to go gallivanting around the state of Texas.
Dont be ridiculous. Lexi gave her a playful swat on the knee. Teresa will take good care of Amelia. You need to do some research for your rich people book, and I need to take advantage of a date who owns his own jet plane.
You are a mercenary, Devin playfully accused.
He helped me get on my horse, said Lexi, biting down for a second on her bottom lip. Then he helped me get off. And his hands lingered on my hips. I dont know why that seemed so incredibly sexy, but it did. She pressed the small towel into her lap, squeezing it between her palms. I havent kissed a man since Rick died. And we dated from the time I was fifteen, so Ive never really kissed another man at all. Ive certainly never made love to anyone else.
Devin blinked. Youre thinking about making love with Byron?
Lexis cheeks flushed brighter. Maybe. She tossed the towel on the bed and finger-combed her long hair. I dont know. Im thinking about kissing him, anyway. Maybe tomorrow night at the party. She leaned forward, a pleading look in her eyes. You have to come, Devin.
Devin wasnt crazy about the idea of flying to Houston. And she definitely wasnt wild about attending a party with Lucas.
She made an excuse to Lexi. I dont have anything to wear.
Lexi grinned. Well go shopping.
But-
Lexi waved off Devins protest. Byron already told me I should go wild. We can stop in Dallas on the way, or we can make sure we get to Houston early. Come on, Devin. Designer dresses. Somebody elses credit card.
Mercenary, Devin repeated.
Itll be a blast.
Devin found she didnt have it in her to let Lexi down. It was the happiest shed seen her friend since Rick had died. Shed buy a dress, make a little small talk and tough it out in Lucass company.
It wasnt as though his opinion of her could get any worse. She groaned.
What? Lexis voice betrayed her concern.
Nothing. Devin shook her head. This was about Lexi. Ill come to Houston.
Is it Lucas?
Devins throat thickened for a split second, but she swallowed it away. Of course its Lucas. Everything is Lucas. My nemesis is Lucas.
Because you hate him?
I dont hate him. She didnt. She hated the situation and the circumstances.
Is it because you want him again, and you cant have him?
Devin coughed on a exclamation of denial. I dont want him.
Because you hate him?
I dont hate him. She didnt. She hated the situation and the circumstances.
Is it because you want him again, and you cant have him?
Devin coughed on a exclamation of denial. I dont want him.
Lexi lapped the robe over her thigh. Uh-huh, she agreed sarcastically.
And if I did, Devin declared, I could have him any old time I wanted.
Are you sure?
Yes, Im sure. In fact, I already- Devin stopped herself.
Lexi scooted eagerly up on her knees. In fact, you already what?
Oh, hell. What was the point of pretending. I did it again.
Slept with Lucas?
Yes, Devin admitted.
And you didnt tell me? When? Why? How?
How?
You know what I mean. Lexi wriggled closer.
He caught me. Well, almost caught me. Snooping in his emails. I was looking for messages from Konrad.
Lexi gave an admiring nod. Gutsy. I like it.
I was in his bedroom. Devin couldnt help thinking back. I heard him coming down the hall. So I hopped on his bed and acted like I was there to proposition him. She cringed at the memory.
And he said yes?
Oh, yeah. A touch of pride crept into Devins voice as she remembered Lucass enthusiasm.
Lexi gave a throaty chuckle.
But then, later, I guess the next day. Im not sure. He found the emails, and now he thinks Well, he thinks Im the kind of person whod use sex as a tool for covert operations.
I think its admirable.
Devin frowned. That Id use sex that way?
That youd break into Lucass email account.
Devin plucked at the quilt on the bed. I couldnt do it. I mean, I know I did it. But I realized Id gone way over the line. I was about to shut it down when he showed up.
She remembered the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach when shed realized how badly shed invaded Lucass privacy. She was mortified by her own behavior, and she could certainly understand Lucass disgust.
I bet he would have done exactly the same thing, Lexi staunchly defended.
You think? Not that it gave her an excuse, but Devin would prefer to think she wasnt the only one whose ethics could be questionable.
Dont let him paint himself as an angel. Youre not perfect. Then again, neither am I. Im thinking about sleeping with a man I only just met.
Kind of like I did?
Lexi reached out and squeezed Devins hands. Were human. Its not a flaw to be human. She paused. So, what do you say about Houston?
Lucas realized he was unlikely to ever see any of these people again. But he couldnt get past his discomfort at sitting in a pink armchair next to the lingerie section of Desmonde in downtown Houston, sipping a glass of white wine and pretending he cared about the fashion magazine the clerk had left open on his lap.
He tipped his body toward Byron and hissed. Were shopping for dresses.
Byron leaned back in obvious self-satisfaction. Do I know how to keep a little filly happy or what?
Cant we leave? And come back later? Maybe they could find a sporting goods store or a cigar bar, somewhere Lucas could regenerate his testosterone.
Youve never been married, have you, Lucas? Byron knew that perfectly well. Trust me on this, I know what Im doing.
But I dont want to keep the little filly happy. Lucas plunked the magazine back down on the glass table in front of them.
He was willing to attend the party. It was a state board of trade event, so there were likely some good business contacts to be had. And Byron always supported Lucas, and Lucas understood Byron was interested in Lexi. But he didnt see why they had to traipse around Houston like a couple of college girlfriends, oohing and ahhing while Devin and Lexi chose dresses.
Take a look at that, Byron cooed in a voice that carried across the room. Isnt she the prettiest thing?
Exiting the dressing room area, Lexi did an exaggerated model walk across the raised floor. The dress she wore was a brilliant blue, tight on top, with a full, layered crinoline-type skirt that fell to her knees. A jewel-studded belt flashed at her waist.
Lucas had to admit, Lexi had amazing legs for a forty-year-old.
Byron gave a low whistle, and Lexi flashed him a grin.
Those shoes are a must, noted a salesclerk as she approached the dais.
Lexi turned her ankle to give them a better show of a pair of silver, high-heel sandals with wide ankle straps.
You like the shoes, darlin? Byron asked.
Love the shoes, said Lexi.
Were taking the shoes, Byron informed the salesclerk. And the dress. Im particularly partial to the dress.
Its the first one Ive tried on, Lexi protested.
Then try on some more, said Byron with a wave of his large, work-roughened hand. He lowered his voice to a conspiratorial level as he addressed the salesclerk. Never known a woman to have too many dresses.
The salesclerk gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder, obviously sensing a hefty commission. Neither have I, she readily agreed.
Devin appeared next, but Lucas barely got a glimpse of her black sheath of a cocktail dress before the salesclerk rushed to shoo her back into the change room.
Then the woman marched purposefully past Lucas to the lingerie, snagged a lacy black push-up bra and a scrap of a thong and whisked them toward the dressing rooms. Nothing will ruin that Rue de Femme dress like panty lines, she announced to anyone who happened to be within earshot.